28 Mo Son W/cavities... Needs Dental Work???

There is a wonderful dentist in St Pete her name's Dr. Staves ###-###-####. She and her staff are great with tots. My little girl had 2 cavities. I thought watered down juice was ok to drink all day and I guess raisins are not good unless you brush right after! Anyways, if I were you I'd go ahead and get his teeth cleaned while you wait for Medicaid then go to her if not too far away...she takes Medicaid.
Good luck,
A.

I was told that I don't need to take my son to the dentist until he's 4-5. What were you told? Please let me know.. Do you brush them nightly? My husband holds him down while I brush. It does seem a bit much to fix baby teeth since they just fall out...

as i was reading your request my first instinct was to tell you about dr. bopp, i noticed someone eles has mentioned him too. he is amazing.. i moved here in 1998, central florida, but have never had full confidence in the health dept. seems they just get everyone in and out as quickly as possible, tho the wait is still hours... trust your gut, something about this dentist isn't sitting right. if your child isn't haveing any pain, get on medicaid and healty kids and push push push.. and when it looks like its going to go through, call dr. bopp. (there is a waiting list) but after the initial appt., if there is pain, tell them and they will work you in much quicker.. the enviorment at dr.bopps is like nothing i have ever seen, ever member of his staff is exceptional.(and there are several on at one time) they all care about the children and focus directly on yours while yours is there. sadie, my daughter was three when she'd developed her cavity, but had no pain. (she had a small hole in a back molar) i called and talked with one of the girls and she was very sweet and understanding, the waiting list at that time was 4-6 months! about a month and a half later sadie starting having pain, so i called. they had her in in a week! i was scared for her, but she was excited as could be. they gave her sleepy juice, which had very little effect on my hyper little one.. but she went back there like a champ,(without me!!) and didn't cry once! came out talking about all the cool things in the back and showing off her silver spot! all because of the atmoshere they create. dr.bopp comes out and talks with you before the procedure and after if needed, its well worth the drive and wait, (provided pain is not already present)

here is the number, just in case... ###-###-#### good luck!

As far as I know, cavities have little to do with breastfeeding, or lack-there-of, and more to do with lack of brushing the sugar off of the teeth. I started brushing my son's gums before his teeth emerged, and continued to do so 2-3 times a day once they did emerge. Although they're a bit crooked now that his adult teeth are coming in, he hasn't had a cavity yet (keeping fingers crossed it stays that way),and he too, could drink milk (chocolate, of course) and juice all day if I let him.

My 6 year old niece is a candy addict, and SHE needed a child's version of a root canal last year. It was fullblown surgery with her being put under and everything.

I would definitely take a 2 year old with cavities seriously. I didn't get my first until the age of 7,and I've only had a few over the years. But the tooth I did get a cavity on as a child, is STILL a problem area today, and that first tooth is long gone.

My neice had her baby teeth repaired as they came in. I asked my sister in law and they didn't have to drill on her teeth. Baby teeth are usually soft enough to work on without drilling. They just scrape them and put fillings in. But she still ended up having them all pulled out before her adult teeth came in so it was a waste of money. If his teeth are rotten chances are the gums are already damaged. Take the chocolate milk and other sweets away except for special times. Good Luck. Oh and one more thing. She said you can go in with him and hold him while the dentist is doing this work.

Definately look around and get multiple opinions. This is very improtant to deal with, but do it right. Pay more if you have to for you child's sake. My son is also a chocolate milk addict, but we have had no problems. I cut off any milk after dinner and he can only drink water after that. He gets a cup of water in the dark right before bed as well. We also hold him down screaming to brush his teeth, but I take him to the dentist every 6 months (since age 2) because I know I can't get them well enough all the time. Him drinking chocolate milk shouldn't be a big deal as long as it isn't left to sit in his mouth on his teeth during nap or bedtime. Good luck, I hope it isn't horrible for him!

I breastfed my son for 2 1/2 years and even at night so the milk would sit on his teeth. He started complaining that one of his molars hurt at about that age and so I took him to the kidcare dentist. The saw that he had a cavity and made an appointment to fill it--it was a horror. I had to help hold him down while they drilled and he screamed and I wondered how they could tell that they had given him enough novacaine--sometimes it doesn't work--hard to tell if he was in real pain or just freaked out. Anyway, it was more traumatic on me I think--he lived through it, but he has some dark spots on other molars that must be cavities, but unless he starts to complain, I can't bring myself to go through it again. Dentist told me that it would have to be a very extreme case to put them under, which is dangerous. You can opt to not be in the room for the process, but then it feels like you are abandoning them. Very scary process--I guess it is up to your judgment--if it is really bad, he may need to have a cavity filled. You may want to consider a different dentist who specializes in small children and just pay--I don't know if it will be any different than the medicaid dentists.
Sorry--its a hard one and no easy answer that I know of.

Mine is not that young but my barely 4 year old had 4 cavities filled(not caps or anything, just fillings) and did not even cry. My dentist specializes in children and is wonderful. They were more worried about having to leave before they were done with their games. They see Dr Gonzalez.

Hi M.,
In my prior life (and when I need a break from my kids!) I am a Dental Hygienist. I think scheduling a cleaning is a good idea but it's very important to let him feel as though he is in control. This is a new experience for your son and all that equiptment, the smells and new people can be overwhelming for a small child. GO SLOW. Hopefully the staff there will feel the same and be patient.
Next, watch what "snacks" you are feeding him. Does he eat a lot of raisins? Any "dried" fruits are packed w/sugar and especially the sticky fruits will stick to the teeth.
I don't know if you brush his teeth still or let him do it (again the control thing) but my 22 month old thinks she can brush her teeth all alone...wrong!! Plaque is contantly forming on our teeth (made up of food, saliva & bacteria), so when you eat something w/sugar, the plaque & sugar together form an acid. The acid then "eats" away at your teeth. I don't know if his cavities are in between his teeth but if they are, that means you need to floss! Yep, floss will get the plaque out that gets between the teeth where your toothbrush doesn't reach.
I'm sorry M. if I'm going over board here, but I am passionate about Dental Hygiene and I really believe that kids need to have a positive experience. What ever you do, try not to say things like "this won't hurt much". Then they expect that it really will hurt.
Depending on where and how deep the cavities are, they may not need to drill. Again, I don't know the severity so your Dentist will be able to tell you once he/she really gets in there if crowning is needed.
Best advice, keep it POSITIVE. He's only 28 months and a bad experience now can stay with him forever.
Good Luck M.!

My 2nd son was 11m/o when his four top front teeth were extracted and the two top premolars were capped. It was horrifying he couldn't be sedated due to his age an d medical history in my family. He is a large boy too so he broke free of the papoose at first, I had to help strap him in and hold his head still, for years he wouldn't go back to a dentist. If your family history is one of having heart or breathing problems I wouldn't sedate. but if you don't sedation leaves the child less traumatized by the experience.

Unfortunately, do admit that nursing has no only benifits not detriments to your childs teeth! Even if you nurse at night, it's not like they're having a bottle leaking and pooling in their mouth all night! when you "let down" the child swallows the milk and it's done, no pools of milk. I nursed our first son until he was 3. Our second I weaned at 11 months due to his teeth - not because I wanted to, but he was in so much pain he went straight to drinking out of a cup. Our third son I am nursing now in the 9th month and plan to nurse as long as is still interested ( I say this be cause he's already showing signs of self weaning).

Our first son's teeth have some cavaties but not a lot. Our 2nd has poor teeth, they've determined that the teeth had weak enamle to start with! and our newest addition we'll see. His teeth came in the latest (4mo with the first 2, 7mo with him).

Teeth are as much a part of the genetic roulette wheel as the rest of us. If you and your childrens father have dental issues your children will more than likely.

Good luck and the strenght of all mothers be with you!!!

I would take him to a pediatric dentist who will sedate him.
don't torture the kid and make him hate or fear dentists. It costs more but I think it's worth it.

Hey M.,
I can totally emphazize with you on the whole issue. Even down to Healthy Kids/medicaid issue. However if you end up where either of them show up there is a "Pediatric" Dentist out of Lakeland named Dr. Bopp that is awsome!! He also takes both medicaid and or healthy Kids. His office is like Kids maze and the client area is made just for kids, It is awsome, though the drive is a little ways it is well worth it for your child to feel secure and the quality. Mandy E

Hi M.,

While I don't have experience, and hope I never do, I did some research and found these two websites. One sight is parents talking about how filling cavities was approached wit thier little ones.

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/dental-sedation...

The second talks about some kind of gum that helps cut the bad bacteria in the mouth which helps prevent cavitites. Something to research and look into.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/122804/met_1754...

Good luck on your search for answers!

M., I am sorry that we did not communicate before this, but there is a wonderful product called spiffies that has xylitol on it, and it is a lot like a gauze finger cot with grape flavored stuff that you rub on teeth. Xylitol is proving to be a better cavity fighter than fluoride, and it tastes good. Go to www.spiffies.com to check it out.

Kidcare and Medicaid need to get their act together. I don't know if I would trust the health dept to deal with my kids teeth if I had a 2 year old son with multiple cavities. I would be VERY uncomfortable about them working on my 2 year old's teeth without any numbing agent. You have the right to refuse treatment if they don't provide comfort measures for your child. Call Kidcare and demand the care of a pediodontist. They will probably make you spend a lot of time on the phone, but it could be worth it. I had a similar problem with kidcare many years ago. When I asked for another dentist, I had to fight for it. As it turned out--MY son did not even NEED the surgery that the first dentist insisted that he needed.

we have medicaid and use dr verwest at just for kids, in fort myers.

also, my dd's had dental work at 5. they had caps put on and a few pulled. i had no reasoning behimd this, as they ate hardly any sweets and we always brushed. some kids are just prone to them. you have to floss really. thats the most important thing. the cavities can affect adult teeth, but he is so young....

as far as getting the work done, i would ask for alternatives and get a second opinion, even if it means a few bucks out of your pocket. but in the meantime call medicaid and ask for dr verwest number at just for kids in fort myers if it is near you.

good luck...and take away that chocolate milk!!!! :)

My son is four, almost five, and back in november, he had a pulpotomy (sp?) a mini root canal plus a cap on that one tooth, the one next to it needed a filling, I feel like it is all my fault for letting him eat rotten foods (not everyday, just once in awhile, and slacking on the brushing, bad mom) But I mean what can you do but get them fixed, right? I feel for you, my son and daughter,3, are going into the dentist tomm , kidcare here too, but going to the health dept, which one did you go to? You can personal message me about the health dept if you dont want to post here......

C.

Hi I have a six year old son who hates taking care of his teeth well now he has a few cavities. When I took him to the dentist they did a cleaning and the next visit they wanted to do sealants its basically white coating on the teeth pretty much painting the teeth. My son only let them do one. They werent pediatric dentist so they had no patience Good luck to you!

Hi M.-
I am a Registered Dental Hygienist who has previous experience in Pediatric Dentistry. I worked with Dr. Johnny Johnson in Palm Harbor. He does not sedate kids & does not use the papoose board. This does not have to be traumatic for your son! He will also start with a cleaning, if not already done recently & will bring him back to watch another child have work done & then will schedule him to have his actual work done. They are excellent there & usually it goes very well. There are very few cases that I ever saw while there that he could not handle successfully. He does not take Medicaid or Kidcare, so if possible to pay out of pocket, then he's worth every cent!
My own child will go there when he is ready. I hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
K.

Hello there...I am a dental hygienist and I will give you my professional opinion. A papoose board is NOT necessary, some facilities feel that it is. I highly recommend finding a dentist that does NOT believe in them unless absolutely necessary as a last resort. I promise you he will be scared forever after this experience. Taking care of the cavities is absolutely necessary and you are doing a good thing by taking him and getting those taken care of now. I don't know where you live, but I would recommend Dr. Frank P. (Safari of Smiles) in New Port Richey. His daughter also has a practice off of Dale Mabry. I can't remember his last name to save my life, call Safari of Smiles and they should be able to give you the number. I don't know which Public Health facility you went to, but I have worked at a few of them in the surrounding Pinellas county. With my experience, there are doctors at some of them that do not believe in papoose and others it is the only thing they use. Please don't take him to get the cavities filled without doing some doctor research. I have seen kids scared to death into their 20's because of instances similiar to yours. I hope my advice helps and Good Luck

Yeah not a fun one. As for suggestions, my only one is do some research on products to use to prevent any more. I would like to warn you of the flouride - this stuff is junk, it doesn't do anything for your teeth (plenty of reports on that) and it is bad for your health (plenty of reports on that as well). You should all be using Flouride Free teeth cleaning products - there are many out there. Flouride is another product that is a bi-product of aluminum - do you know what aluminum does to the brain? Not good at all. We are so blind to the FDA and what they say is safe, they are run on money - money controls most of the results up there. Do some of your own and you will be very suprised at what you find. Mom instinct will kick in and guide you. Best of luck.

M.,
I am a dental hygienist in the valrico area, it is so important that you get your sons fillings done. If they are not done they will get infected and then you have a child with a toothache and dealing with that at the dentist, now you just have a child with cavities. They have to put him in a papoose so they wont hurt him if he moves even if it does seem extreme that is the way they do it. Did they give you a treatment plan on what needs to be done so you know what you are dealing with? I hope this helps you, good luck...
kimmy

Hi M.,
I certainly feel your pain! My son at the age of 4 had to have cavities filled. He started off doing well but then as the visits progressed he started having problems because he knew what was coming! Both of my boys (ages 5 and 6 at the time) had dental surgery last summer where they were in the hospital and completely sedated. It was great to have it done all in one shot but really pricey! You have to deal with dental insurance and health insurance.
Here are a few things that have helped us since then. You can get a prescription from your dentist for some toothpaste that you brush on their teeth before they go to bed. It has a higher concentration of flouride so be careful. They can't drink anything for 30 minutes after they put this on their teeth. Go to walmart/target and by the kids toothbrushes that light up when they brush their teeth. The light stays on for about a minute and they aren't supposed to stop brushing until then. Also, check with your water company to see if you water has fluroide in it. If not, by some bottled water from the grocery store that has fluroide in it.
It was very hard to go to the dentist because most dentist will not let you be in the room with your child when they are working on them. Also, if your child does not do well with the papoose system.. ask them to do the conscious sedation. This is a little "cocktail" they drink about a 1/2 hour before the procedure and it should help relax your child.
Good luck! I wish you well!
If you have any more questions, feel free to email me at ____@____.com